JP2003519515A - Decorative chain elements - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract: A decoration comprising a hollow body constituted by two complementary parts (3; 4) with co-operating inner snap fastening means (5-6, 8-11). Chain element. The hollow body is shaped to hold at least one link member (14; 15) and connect the link member to an adjacent chain element, and house the locking member (12) inside. Snap fastening means are configured to lock in their assembled position.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a decorative chain element, which consists for example of a generally spherical continuous element having the same or different dimensions and is made of metal, preferably a noble metal, for example gold.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known to make chains of beads by the following method: First, metal wires are stamped out at regular intervals to form enlarged regions leaving a narrow portion between them;
Wrap each expansion area in a sheet of metal shaped for bead formation; then break the wire in a narrow portion of each bead adjacent each expansion area.

This method has not been particularly well adopted in the manufacture of decorative chains, in particular because the beads made by this method lend themselves poorly to the mounting of precious stones.

In FR-A-2779921, the applicant company describes a decorative chain made from continuous elements, which is characterized by at least one of the elements of the chain being a hollow body. A hollow body internally secured with an insert configured to hold a link member connected to an adjacent element of the chain, the insert being constituted by at least one split sleeve, The sleeve is formed to be wide enough to allow passage of the main body of the link member.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Technical Problem to be Solved by the Invention The present invention provides a decorative chain element suitable for an assembly process, which is faster than the chain elements of the prior art documents. And, in particular, to provide an assembly element that has greater strength against attempts to strip the chain.

The chain element of the invention basically comprises a hollow body composed of two complementary parts with cooperating inner snap fastening means, the hollow body comprising at least one hollow body. Characterized in that it is shaped to hold the link member of the said for the connection of it with the adjacent element of the chain and holds the inner locking member for locking the snap fastening means in the assembled position. .

Preferably, the snap fastening means for fastening the two hollow body portions include tongues projecting from one hollow body portion, each of the tongues being a retaining support formed in the other hollow body portion. A stop forming end suitable for engaging a surface is provided.
The other hollow body preferably comprises a recess in which a tubular locking member is supported, the locking member pressing outwardly on the end of the tongue during assembly of the two parts of the hollow body, This locks them in the assembled position.

This locking member is made of the same material as the hollow body and acts to deform the ends of the tongue during assembly, so that the tongue is, so to speak, riveted to their bearing surfaces.

The two parts of the hollow body of the invention are provided with cutouts in their outer walls for receiving the link members, and the links are inserted into the hollow body after the two parts constituting the hollow body have been assembled. I am trying to keep it.

The present invention is adaptable to many deformed shapes for hollow bodies, which are preferably spherical and made by lathe work and formed on one part of the hollow body. Suitable for supporting precious stones mounted in blind holes.

As in the above-mentioned prior publication of the applicant company name, the link member may be constituted by a nail with two heads.

Other advantages and features of the invention appear in the following description of non-limiting examples provided in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The figures show an embodiment of an element of the invention, which is spherical, is given the general reference 1 and is mounted therein. With precious stones 2, this element is made of gold or other precious metals.

The element of the present invention is a hollow body made by assembling two parts 3 and 4, each part having a spherical outer shape, the two parts having a generally spherical shape once they are assembled. Configure element 1.

For mutual fastening, the elements 3 and 4 are provided with co-locking means with snap fastening actuation.

These means include tongues 5, in the example shown there are three tongues, part 3
Projecting from and distributed equiangularly, each of the tongues 5 has a stop 6 at its end.

As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 5, the part 4 of the element 1, which is complementary to the part 3, comprises a continuous cylindrical cavity 7, 8, 9 together with a blind hole 10, the blind hole being It is a truncated cone shape for receiving and mounting the precious stone 2.

The cavity 7 is dimensioned to guide and receive the tongue 5 of the element 3, with a stepped support surface 11 between the cavities 7 and 8 so that the stop forming end 6 is received in the cavity 8. Occasionally, it forms a bearing surface on which the stop-forming end 6 of each tongue 5 snaps, which can be seen more clearly in FIG.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the cavities 8 are extended by smaller diameter cavities 9 in which a ring 12 with chamfered ends 13 can be tight-fit supported.

As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 2 to 4, the ring 12 is supported in the cavity 9 so that its chamfered end 13 projects into the cavity 8, the chamfered edge being the stop-forming end of the tongue 5. Supports 6.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, during the assembly of the parts 3 and 4 and the mutual locking by snap fastening, the inner surface of the tongue 5 slides against the chamfered part 13 of the annular locking member constituted by the ring 12. And pushed outwardly, whereby the tongue stop forming end 6
Is deformed outward to ensure movement prevention of the snap fastening means.

The effect that the tongue end is "riveted" ensures that the two mechanical parts that make up the chain element of the invention are held securely and attempts to tear the chain apart. Provide excellent ability to withstand.

For connection to adjacent elements in a decorative chain, the element according to the invention is a tubular nail 1.
Suitable for receiving four, each nail has two double cone-shaped heads 15
Is equipped with.

To receive the nail 14, the parts 3 and 4 of the chain element according to the invention are provided with corresponding notches 16 and 17, which notches are aligned in the assembled position and engage the nail 14 therein. They are held together and held in the cavities of the elements, while being freely movable in many directions, yet nevertheless escape from the cavities.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, it is not limited thereto and that changes or modifications can be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Is clear.

Thus, although the example shows three link members distributed at equal angles, it is possible to include any number of such members and distribute them regularly or otherwise. It is entirely possible to assume that.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the decorative chain element of the present invention, which element comprises three link members for connecting to adjacent elements.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing details of a portion A in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view corresponding to FIG. 2 to show the construction of the elements of the invention before assembly.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (81) Designated countries EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, I T, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE, TR), OA (BF , BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, G M, KE, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ , UG, ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AE, AG, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, B Z, CA, CH, CN, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK , DM, DZ, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, J P, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR , LS, LT, LU, LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MZ, NO, NZ, PL, PT, R O, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ , TM, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. Decorative chain element, two complementary parts (3 ;; with inner snap fastening means (5-6; 8-11) with which the element cooperates.
4) comprising a hollow body (1), the hollow body comprising at least 1
For retaining the individual link members (14; 15) for the connection thereof with the adjacent elements of the chain and for locking the inner locking member (12) in the assembled position for locking the snap fastening means. A chain element characterized by holding. 2. A snap fastening means for fastening two hollow body parts comprises a tongue (5) protruding from one hollow body part (3), each of the tongues being the other hollow body part (4). 2. The decorative chain element according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a stop-forming end (6) suitable for engaging a retaining support surface (11) formed therein. 3. The other hollow body (4) comprises a recess (9) in which a cylindrical locking member (12) is supported, the locking member being two parts of the hollow body (1). Decorative chain element according to claim 2, characterized in that during assembly of (3; 4) the ends (6) of the tongue (5) are pressed outwardly, thereby locking them in the assembled position. 4. The two parts (3; 4) of the hollow body (1) are provided with notches (16; 17) in their outer walls for receiving the link members (14; 15) and constitute a hollow body. Ornamental chain element according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the links are retained in the hollow body after the two parts (3; 4) present are assembled. 5. The decorative chain element according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hollow body (1) is spherical. 6. Ornamental chain element according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hollow body (1) is made of metal and it is made by lathing. 7. Ornamental chain element according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each link member is constituted by a nail (14) having two heads (15). 8. Ornament according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a blind hole (10) for mounting a precious stone (2) is provided in one part (4) of the hollow body. Chain element.